Groundbreaking Grant Fuels New Look at Perimenopause and Mental Health
A landmark $3.7 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health is enabling a focused investigation into perimenopause, a life stage that has long been overlooked in medical research. Researchers at Michigan State University’s Department of Psychology—led by MSU Research Foundation Professor Kelly Klump, Associate Professor Katharine Thakkar, and Research Specialist Kristen Culbert—are embarking on a comprehensive study to determine how hormonal fluctuations during midlife might influence mental health outcomes, including psychosis and bipolar disorder.
Why This Research Matters
For decades, women’s midlife experiences have received scant attention in science. While earlier work recognized a rise in certain mental health symptoms during midlife, the specific hormonal underpinnings remained unclear. This study is among the first to systematically assess whether hormonal changes during perimenopause—not just age—predict an increased risk for psychosis and other mental health concerns in women.
“We have known there is a midlife spike in psychosis in women that is not observed in men, but we haven’t known why,” explains Culbert. “Our study is the first to examine perimenopausal shifts in hormones in an intensive daily study to see if hormones, not age, predict increased risk for psychosis in women.”
The Study: Design and Focus
The team will follow 750 women aged 40–60 as they participate in an innovative daily monitoring protocol. Each participant will provide daily saliva samples and complete detailed questionnaires designed to map hormone levels in real time, alongside psychological symptoms. This approach captures natural daily hormone variations, a level of granularity rarely achieved in prior research.
Crucially, the study expands beyond estradiol—the primary estrogen—by examining the interplay between estradiol and progesterone. Klump’s prior work has highlighted how this hormonal balance can influence mental health outcomes across different life stages, including conditions like binge eating. Applying that insight to perimenopause could reveal why certain women are more vulnerable to psychosis, mood disorders, or other mental health concerns during midlife.
Potential Public Health Impact
From a public health perspective, identifying women who are more susceptible during perimenopause could transform healthcare delivery. Early risk detection could enable targeted interventions, personalized treatment plans, and improved support systems for midlife women navigating hormonal transitions. “From a public health point of view, being able to identify these women could have a dramatic impact on their health care,” says Klump.
Looking Ahead and What It Means for Women
The goal is not only to understand the biology of perimenopause but to translate findings into practical care improvements. Researchers envision more informed conversations between clinicians and patients, better mental health screening during midlife, and treatment approaches tailored to hormonal timing. As Klump emphasizes, the aim is to help women “thrive during this transition,” with insights that could lead to better support systems and therapies.
What Comes Next
Recruitment is ongoing, and the study is expected to run through early 2027. The researchers note strong interest from women eager to participate in this understudied life stage and to contribute to knowledge that could shape future health care for generations of women.
Funding and Collaboration
The project is supported by a National Institute of Mental Health grant, reflecting a broad commitment to expanding mental health science for women and the midlife period. Culbert and Klump, with their interdisciplinary team, aim to establish a new evidence base that informs both clinical practice and public health policy.
